Reciprocating pump piston and assembly



June 14, 1949. y A. l.. LEMAN L 2,473064 l nEcI-Pnoc'urme PUMP PIsToNYAND ASSEMBLY Fle'd'Sept. 21. 1945 l 'In/ve: Zo-r:

Patented June 1.4, 1949 RECIPROCATING PUMP PISTON AND ASSEMBLY 'Arthur-L. Leman, Houston, Tex. v Application September 21, 1945, Serial No. 617,733 Claims. (Cl. 309-4) My present invention relates to reciprocating pumps, especially those for handling liquids and semi-liquids carrying abrasives and other solid matter, such as slush pumps. More particularly' the invention aims to pro.ide an improved piston unit and assembly for such pumps, of simple and rugged constructionand extended serviceability in its field of use.

In the drawings, illustrating exemplary embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal cross-section through the piston and rod assembly; and

Fig. 2 is a corresponding partial view of a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the illustrated end portion of the reciprocating piston rod 3 includes a conically tapering'section 4 and a terminal part 5 of uniform diameter and threaded for reception of a retaining nut 6, preferably of the lock type or having locking means as indicated aty 'I.

The piston proper is moulded and comprises a metallic core equipped with resilient packing means. It will be understood that the piston reciprocates axially or longitudinally in a cylinder in sliding relation to the cylinder wall', which latter may have a replaceable liner.

In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1, thepiston core comprises a cylindrical or disc-like body I Il of suitable metal shown as integrally formed and including at one end face a reduced hub II. Medially disposed on the body of the piston core is a transverse peripheral rib I2 projecting radially and having its circumferential face preferably exposed to dene the central outer surface for the piston.

The piston further comprises an opposed and generally symmetrical pair of resilient packing members or sleeves, each indicated generally at I 5, of rubber or a rubber-like composition. Each such member has between its ends an annular body section I 6 a portion of which provides an inwardly extending generally radial ange I'I. This flanged body section is of limited extent in the axial direction and corresponding the flange is relatively thin. The diametral planes approximately at the longitudinally outer and inner boundaries of a body section I6 are generally indicated by the dotted lines a and b at the upper left in Fig. 1. The ange I1 radially overlaps the adjacent end of the core, which may be reduced for radial engagement with it.

At the inner end of each packing sleeve I5 is an annular section I8, integral with the thin body section I6 and adapted to extend -between the latter and the peripheral rib I2 of the core. This annular section or body extension I8, also the sleeve body I6 and the core rib I2 have approximately the same outer diameter, to t the particular piston cylinder wall. The inner diameter 2 of the annular section I8 substantially conforms to or averages the outer diameter of body :danse I1. so that said portion I8 comprises a relatively thin wall, radially. It is here noted that the extent of the ange II longitudinally, in the direction paralleling the core axis, is distinctly less than its radial extent, giving the ange and the body section as a whole increased capacity for expansion and contraction radially rather than axially.

At the outer end of each packing sleeve I5 there is integrally formed an annular lip 20 of substantial free longitudinal extent, terminating at a diametral plane indicated by the dotted line marked c in Fig. 1. The length of the sleeve 20 as shown is materially greater than that of the body section I6 and of the ange I1 of the latter, and desirably is at least as greatas the length of the annulus I8. Since at both ends the piston core I0 either terminates at or about the beginning plane a ofthe lip or is of reduced diameter at any portion radially opposite the corresponding lip, the two lips 20 are free to expand and contract radially; and by reason of the longitudinal extent of the lips, said action is aiorded for a large portion of the total piston length, up to or exceeding about one-half thereof, including the two packing sleeves.

Each lip 20 forms a continuation, at its inner end, of the corresponding sleeve body section I6 and annulus I8. Preferably it gradually increases in outer diameter toward its outer end, in the natural or non-compacted condition of the resilient material, substantially as illustrated. The outer end wall of the lip desirably is somewhat inclined inwardly as at 2I, while the inner longitudinal face 22 merges inwardly into the adjacent end of the body section I6 and flange I-'I. In the form of Fig. 1 the lip gradually decreases in inner diameter toward the center of the piston and flows into the end face of the body section ange along a relatively iiat curve. In the modification of Fig. 2 the inner longitudinal wall of the lip 20 is cylindrical or approximately so for a major outer portion of its length, substantially to its curvilinear junction with the relatively4 thin iiange I 'I'. A

It will be understood that the resilient packing sleeves I5 are molded directly on or are bonded to the metallic core I0, which latter desirably is an integral element, solid or otherwise, except for the axis opening for the piston rod, the core preferably being of cast iron. The invention provides for such molded piston, as compared with the earlier assembled types, an importantly extended service life, due largely to the absence of joint apertures between the resilient packing elements `1and the metallic or rigid part of the piston. In the known assembled pistons, joint apertures alternately open and close as the pistons reciprocate. Such apertures, when open, collect solid matter. n closing, they discharge this solid matter against the liner walls, forming sharp grooves. The resultant grooves then tear the resilient packing until failure occurs. Such objectionable action is substantially eliminated in the molded piston of my present invention, including the disclosed structure, shape and proportioning for the packing elements, their relation to the metallic core, and particularly 'the described relatively thin flanged body section.

In previous constructions, such for example as Lemar: Patent 1,927,460, granted September 19, 1933 the packing bodies, being comparatively massive and thick, particularly lengthwise, tended to become tightly wedged outward against'the cylinder liner. Hence at the start of suction strokes, when the radially projective portion of the piston core is pulling on the packing, the bond of the latter gives way and the packing separates, generally first adjacent said core portion. When this separation occurs, the aperture collects and discharges abrasives in the same manner as assembled pistons. The life of the piston and liner is largely determined by the length of time a piston will run without separation. In my improved construction, including the longitudinally thin packing body, objectionable Wedging is reduced and the resilient material of the packing frees itself from the cylinder wall more readily, and the bond, especially at the peripheral rib of my piston core as well as throughout the bonded area, remains intact over long periods of heavy duty.

The self freeing action, when the piston stroke reverses, arises from the novel construction of the long packing lip such as 20, 20' having the inner surface open to the fluid 'from the outer end of the packing to a transverse plane adjacent the base or inner end of the lip, and the interrelation of the lip to the portion of the packing inwardly beyond that plane. In this connection it will be noted that as illustrated the piston core has at either side of the medial rib or flange I2 a smaller circular surface about which the annular section I8 is located. Such surface of smaller radius extends in the axial direction to the inwardly receding surface at the inner face of the portion Il of the packing, which inwardly receding surface is substantially transverse. The relative location of these surfaces and the mentioned transverse plane determine the axial and radial extents of the inner packing portions such as Il and I8 and theirrelation to the long fluid-subject lip 2B and afford to the packing material adjacent the inwardly receding transverse surface a capacity for radial distortion under pressure and rapid recovery on piston reversal.

In Fig. 2, corresponding approximately to the upper half of Fig. l, similar parts have the same reference numerals with the addition of prime marks. In this instance the body IIJ' of the metallic piston core is symmetrical at both sides of the peripheral lip I2', a separate collar or washer II being interposed between the outer end face of the core and the locking nut. The radially thin annular sections I8' are here shown as of decreasing internal diameter toward the core rib, the metallic core being correspondingly inclined inwardly as at Illa. The average radial dimension of each annular section I8' may be similarly limited as in Fig. 1, for a given size of piston. The inner transverse faces of the thin body flanges I1 follow a general plane perpendicular to the core axis. The corresponding surfaces of the core for bonding to the flanges, also those receiving the annular sections 'I8'. including if desired the radial faces of the core lip I2', may be serrated, fluted or of other non-planar formation as indicated at Illb, such formation being also employed if desired in connection with the Fig. 1 embodiment. As previously mentioned, the elongated freely projecting lips 20 are illustrated .in Fig. 2 as having their inner peripheral faces along a substantially cylindrical surface for major outer portions of their total length. Other modifications of the packing sleeves and correspondingly of the metallic core are contemplated by the invention in keeping with the relatively thin or longitudinally limited structure for the intermediate annular body and radially extensive inward flange thereof.

The invention further comprises novel means in combination with the molded piston and the piston rod 3 for facilitating installation and removal of the piston proper, including the metallic core and the bonded resilient packing members, with respect to the rod. As illustrated in Fig. 1, said means comprises a metallic stop collar 30, of a size to abut the inner face of the piston, and having a central conically tapered aperture or bore as indicated at 3I. The collar member 30 is of substantial thickness, in the axial direction, herein approximately corresponding to the length of the core hub portion II and to the freely projective extent of the packing ribs 20. The diameter of the collar bore 3I as compared with that of the conical portion of the rod at which the collar is positioned is made relatively less than the bore diameter of the piston with respect to its enclosed rod portion. That is, the bore diametral differential is less for the collar thany for the piston` Also, the collar preferably is of a material such as steel having a greater elasticity than that of the piston core, generally cast iron, such different metallic composition being indicated by the diierent hatching of these parts.

Further, the diameter and taper for the wall of the collar aperture 3| are so calculated with reference to the conical section 4 of the piston rod that the collar 30 has a tight wedging fit on the rod at such position that the outer end face of the collar then presents a positive limiting stop for the piston, at the correct installed location of the latter, that is when the piston joint is tight enough on the conical rod section 4 to eiect a'uid seal. Hence when the collar 30 and piston core I are forced on the rod by the nut 6, the stop collar 3U due to its smaller relative bore, is expanded more than the core and exerts a greater unit bearing pressure on the rod than does the core. The relative difference between bearing pressures of the collar and of the core is further increased by the difference in the moduli of elasticity Where the collar is of steel and the core is of cast iron as illustrated. Thus end thrust is transmitted between the rod and the piston largely through the stop collar 3D. Hence the piston is easily removable from the rod, even after long periods of service, whereas heretofore taper-bored pistons have frequently become so tightly wedged onto the rods that removal has been difficult without mutilation of the parts.

My invention is not limited to the embodiments thereof as illustrated or described, its scope being pointed out in the followingv claims.v

. claim:

1. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston comprising a metallic core with a medial flange and a smaller circular surface on either side of the flange extending axially to an inwardly receding substantially transverse surface that is closer to the mid-section than to the end of the piston, and a rubberous packing molded on the core with its outside surface substantially flush with the periphery of the medial flange, and having an inner surface open to the fluid from the outer end of the packing to a transverse plane at not greater axial distance from the inner than from the outer end of the packing, said transverse plane also being at a less distance from the inwardly receding substantially transverse surtce than the latter is from the piston mid-secon. y

2. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston comprising a metallic core with a medial ilange and a smaller circular surface on either side of the flange extending axially to'an inwardly receding substantially transverse surface that is closer to the mid-section than to the e'nd of the piston, and a rubberous packing molded on the core with its outside surface substantially ilush with the periphery of the medial flange, and having an inner surface open to the fluid from the outer end of the packing to. a transverse plane at not greater axial distance from the inwardly receding substantially transverse surface than from the outer end of the packing, said transverse plane also being. at a less distance from the inwardly receding substantially transverse surface than the latter is from the piston mid-section.

3. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston comprising a metallic core with a medial flange' and a smaller circular surface on either side of the flange extending axially to an inwardly receding substantially transversesurface that is closer to the mid-section than to the end of the piston, and a rubberous packing molded on the core with its outside surface substantially flush with the periphery of the medial flange, and having an inner surface open to the fluid from the outer end of the packing to a transverse plane at not greater axial distance from the inwardly recomprising a metallic core with a radial ange, Y

the core having a circular surface on either side of and of smaller periphery than the ange and extending to an inwardly receding substantially transverse surface, a rubberous packing element surrounding and molded onto the core with the rubberous material longitudinally abuttingsaid radial flange, radially abutting said circular surface and longitudinallyabutting said transverse surface, and said packing element having the outer end open centrally for an axially inward extent such that the fluid pressure thereat will cause radially outward distortion of the rubberous material contiguous to said transverse surface.

7. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston comprising a metallic core with a radial flange on either side of which is molded av rubberous packing with its outer surface substantially flush with the periphery of the flange, said packing having a generally longitudinal inner surface that is exposed to the uid from the outer end of the packing inwardly for more than half the axial length of the packing, the piston core having at the outer end an associated central element providing an end face for thrust-supporting engagement with a retaining nut, and said exposed inner surface of the packing extending axially inward to a transverse plane spaced from said end face.

8. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston y according to claim 7 wherein the core-associated ceding substantially transverse surface than the radial thickness of the packing in the plane.

4. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston comprising a metallic core with a medial flange and a smaller circular surface on either side of the flange extending axially to an inwardly receding substantially transverse surface that is closer to' the mid-section than to the end of the transverse piston, and a rubberous packing molded on the core with its outside surface substantially flush with the periphery of the medial flange, and having an inner surface open to the fluid from the outer end of the packing to a transverse plane at not greater axial distance from the inwardly recedingl substantially ltransverse surface than the inwardly receding substantially transverse ment molded on the core with its outside surface substantially flush with the periphery of the medial flange and having a radially free lip on its outer end of greater average radial thickness central element is a hub extension.

9. A double-acting reciprocating-pump piston according to claim 7 wherein the core-associated central element is a separable collar.

10. A double-acting reciprocating pump piston comprising a metallic core with a radial flange on either side of which is molded a rubberous packing with its outer surface substantially ush with the periphery of the flange, said packing having a generally longitudinal inner surface that is exposed to the fluid from the outer end of the pack- REFERENCES orrED The following 'references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,927,460 Leman Sept 19, 1933 2,111,312 Clark Mar. 15, 1938 2,162,162 Wells June 20, 1 939 2,216,577 Stillwagon ---i Oct. 1, 1940 2,274,927 Lankford Mar. 3, y1942 2,287,483 Miller June 23, 1942 

